Calls to take a stance of neutral nature on assisted suicide have been rejected by doctors.

The opposition to assisted dying was restated by delegates to the British Medical Association's annual conference in Bournemouth yesterday and it was linked to murder by one doctor.

There will be a wrong message will be sent if there will be a change in their position.

The Healthcare Professionals for Assisted Dying (HPAD) had called for the BMA to move to studied neutrality from opposition. Assisted dying should not be restricted to the medical profession but to the entire society, according to HPAD's chairman, Professor Raymond Tallis.

A neutral position on a change in the law was something that he asked the BMA to adopt.

But Dr Dai Samuel, rejecting the call, said, “We must question what as doctors we stand for. I simply stand for looking after my patients and providing high-quality care. I do not consider the killing of patients, whatever the reason, is justified. That is murder and I cannot commit that offence.”

Dr Peter Saunders, of the campaign group Care Not Killing, said that after this voting it is expecting that the BMA will now be campaigning for high-quality.